Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

The sensation of traveling through the BloodGate was unlike anything Grim had ever experienced. It was as if his body was being dissolved at the molecular level, every atom pulled apart and examined before being reassembled. Colors that had no names in any language flashed past his eyes and sounds that existed in dimensions humans weren’t meant to perceive echoed through his consciousness.

Time seemed to stretch and compress simultaneously. He felt as though he was falling for hours while knowing intellectually that only seconds were passing. Beside him, Lin’s presence was both comforting and terrifying—he could sense her thoughts and feelings while they were in the BloodGate.

Then, suddenly, they were through.

They emerged from the portal into water that was shockingly warm after the cold depths they had left behind. The first thing Grim noticed was the heat—not the artificial warmth of the Heart of the Abyss, but the intense, humid heat of volcanic waters. The second thing he noticed was the carnage.

Bodies floated in the water around them—dragons, sea serpents, and creatures he didn’t recognize, all bearing the wounds of recent battle. Some showed the telltale black corruption of the creatures they had just fought, while others appeared to be natural sea life that had been caught in whatever conflict had torn through this realm.

"The South Sea," Lin gasped, treading water beside him as she took in the devastation. Her ice magic formed small platforms beneath them, giving them something solid to rest on while they assessed their situation. "We’re in Ao Qin’s domain."

The underwater landscape was unlike anything in the North Sea. Where Ao Shun’s realm was characterized by cold, clear waters and crystalline formations, this place was warm with volcanic energy. Thermal vents dotted the sea floor, sending up streams of superheated water that created towering columns throughout the water column. The very sea bed seemed alive, with coral formations that glowed with their own bioluminescent beauty.

Or at least, they had been beautiful. Much of the coral showed signs of recent violence—black scorch marks that spoke of corrupted magic, structures shattered by impacts that could only have come from dragons.

In the distance, Grim could see what appeared to be an underwater city built around a massive volcanic vent. The architecture was completely different from anything in the North Sea.

Many of the structures incorporated living coral into their design, creating buildings that were part construction, part organism. Or had been—much of the coral showed signs of having been killed by whatever dark magic had swept through the area, leaving behind skeletal frameworks that looked like the bones of some massive creature. freeweɓnøvel.com

"This wasn’t just a battle," Lin observed, studying the patterns of destruction around them. "This was systematic devastation. Look at the way the damage is distributed—it’s too organized to be random combat."

She was right. The destruction followed clear patterns, as if the attacking force had been working from a specific plan. Defensive positions had been targeted first, then communication centers, then what appeared to be civilian areas. It was the kind of strategic thinking that spoke of military planning rather than simple aggression.

"Jiaolong’s been learning," Grim realized with growing unease. "Each realm he attacks, he gets better at it. More efficient."

As they swam closer to the main city, more evidence of the recent battle became apparent. Weapons lay scattered on the sea floor—tridents, swords, and devices Grim didn’t recognize. Barricades had been hastily constructed from coral and volcanic rock, then smashed apart by forces that left twisted metal and stone in their wake.

Most disturbing of all were the patches of water that seemed darker than the rest—areas where so much blood had been spilled that it had created actual dead zones in the ocean. Nothing lived in these spaces, not even the microscopic organisms that usually made the water shimmer with life.

"The thermal currents," Lin said suddenly, studying the water around the volcanic vents. "They’re disrupted. Someone’s been manipulating them deliberately."

Grim followed her gaze and saw what she meant. The natural flow of heated water from the vents had been altered, creating artificial channels that redirected the energy in specific directions. It was environmental warfare on a scale he had never imagined.

"Why would they do that?" he asked.

"Control," Lin replied grimly. "The South Sea dragons are adapted to specific temperature ranges. Disrupt the thermal currents, and you can make entire areas uninhabitable for them while creating advantages for creatures that thrive in different conditions."

"Like corrupted ones," Grim finished, understanding the tactical implications.

They passed through what had once been the city’s outer defenses, now reduced to rubble. Guard posts had been overrun, their defenders’ bodies left where they fell. Some showed signs of having fought valiantly—surrounded by the corpses of their enemies, weapons still clutched in their hands. Others appeared to have been overwhelmed quickly, their positions overrun before they could mount effective resistance.

"Where would Jiaolong go?" Grim asked, scanning the devastated cityscape for any sign of their quarry. "If he’s looking for Ao Qin’s key, where would it be kept?"

Lin studied the layout of the city. "The Inner Sanctum," she pointed toward the city’s heart, where the largest volcanic vent created a pillar of superheated water that rose toward the distant surface. "That’s where the South Sea King would make his last stand."

As if to emphasize her words, a distant explosion sent shockwaves through the water, and somewhere in the direction of the Inner Sanctum, someone screamed—a sound of pain and rage that carried clearly through the thermal-charged water.

"We’re not too late," Grim said, relief flooding through him. "The battle’s still going on."

"Or it just ended," Lin replied ominously, noting how the sounds of combat were already fading.

They began swimming toward the Inner Sanctum, but progress was slow. The altered thermal currents created unpredictable eddies and temperature gradients that could scald exposed skin or suddenly drop to freezing temperatures without warning. It was like navigating through a three-dimensional maze where the walls were made of superheated water.

As they approached the Inner Sanctum, the signs of recent battle became more intense. The water itself seemed to carry the residue of massive magical energies—particles of corrupted magic that made Grim’s skin crawl where they touched him. The coral formations here had been not just damaged but actively corrupted, their natural bioluminescence replaced by the sickly glow of dark magic.

Another explosion, closer this time, sent chunks of coral raining down around them. Through the superheated water, they could see flashes of light—the distinctive glow of dragon fire meeting its dark, corrupted counterpart.